Device for aiding inspection of fruit or similar articles packed in crate or cartons



2,891,687 ILAR June 23, 1959 c. o. PICK DEVICE FOR AIDING INSPECTION OF FRUIT OR 'SIM ARTICLES PACKED IN CRATE OR CARTONS Filed Jan. 20, 1958 INVEN TOR. CHARLES o. PICK BUCKHORN, CHEATHAM & BLO RE ATTORNEYS United States Patent DEVICE FOR AIDING INSPECTION OF FRUIT OR SllVlILAR ARTICLES PACKED IN CRATE OR CARTONS Charles '0. Pick, Tigard, 0reg., assignor to Pacific Pulp Molding Company, Portland, 0reg., a corporation of Washington Application January 20, 1958, Serial No. 710,099

1 Claim. (Cl. 214300) My present invention comprises a device for aiding inspection of fruit, eggs, or other articles packed in trays within a crate or carton. It is customary to pack fruit or eggs in molded pulp trays having pockets for reception of individual fruit or eggs, there being a plurality of such trays positioned within a wooden crate or fiber-board carton. It is customary to inspect fruit, or eggs, or similar articles from time to time, either in the warehouse or upon receipt of a carload shipment, or under other circumstances. In making such an inspection it is a time consuming job to open the crate or carton and lift out the individual trays with the articles positioned thereon, particularly when the inspector desires to inspect the bottom row of articles. The present invention comprises a device which enables the emptying of the carton to be accomplished in rapid order while retaining the articles in their packing trays, enabling the inspector rapidly to ascertain the condition of any layer.

The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby an opened crate or carton may be rapidly inverted and lifted from the enclosed contents without damaging the articles.

The invention will be more readily understood by inspection of the accompanying drawings taken in connection with the specification, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and described.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the inspection device;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective, on a smaller scale, showing the inspection device positioned upon an opened carton in which fruit is packed in packing trays;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the device in association with an inverted, open carton; and

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the inspection device supporting the contents of a carton which has been removed.

The device of the present invention comprises a rigid, rectangular, metal plate of substantially the same width and length as the outer dimensions of the crate or carton 11 with which it is to be used in a plane parallel to the plane of the molded pulp packing trays 12 which are positioned within the carton. Such packing trays are provided with individual pockets 13 in which the articles are positioned, in the illustrated embodiment the pockets being designed to accommodate apples 14. Other trays are specifically designed to accommodate various other fruits, eggs, or other fragile articles. The plate 10 is provided with an integral flange 15 along one edge which lies in a plane of about ninety degrees to the plane of the plate and is of suf- 2,891,687 Patented June 23, 1959 ficient width to overlie a substantial portion of a side wall of the container 11. The opposite edge of the plate is provided with an integral flange 16 which rises in the same direction at a slightly divergent angle to the plane of the flange 15. The device thus forms a trough which embraces the open mouth of the container when the device is inverted and positioned thereover. The outer edge of the flange 16 is reversely bent to provide a finger tip receiving groove 17 along the length of the flange. A soft, thick pad 18 of sponge rubber or similar material is adhered to the surface of the plate 10 within the groove defined by the flanges 15 and 16, the adjacent edges of the pad being spaced inwardly from the flanges. The width and length of the pad are lesser than the corresponding inner dimensions of the container 11, so that when the device is inverted over the open mouth of the container the pad 18 projects into the container and presses against the upper layer of articles therein.

The device is utilized by positioning it over the opened mouth of a container and pressing it down against the contents thereof. Then, the container is rolled over on its side so that the flange 15 is positioned against the surface of the supporting table or floor, whereupon the fingers of one hand may be inserted into the finger tip groove 17 to enable the operator to roll the container another ninety degrees without shock to the contents. Thereupon, the container may be lifted from the stack of trays and articles so that the articles may be inspected. It is to be appreciated that if the bottom of the container should be opened instead of the top, the device would be utilized in the same manner, thus exposing the filled trays right side up.

Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same permits of modification in detail and arrangement. I claim as my invention all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A device for aiding inspection of fruit, eggs, or other articles, packed in packing trays within a container such as crate or carton, comprising a rigid, rectangular plate of substantially the same width and length as the outer dimensions of the container in a plane parallel to the trays therein, a pair of flanges respectively extending along a pair of opposite edges of said plate, said flanges projecting in the same direction from said plate where by the device comprises a trough which may be inverted over and embrace the opened container, and a soft, thick pad of resilient material affixed to the surface of said plate between said flanges, the adjacent edges of said pad being spaced inwardly from said flanges and the width and length of said pad being lesser than the corresponding inner dimensions of the container, one of said flanges extending at right angles to said plate whereby said one flange lies against a side of the container when the plate engages the edges of the opened container, and the other of said flanges comprising an outwardly directed, reversely curved portion defining a finger tip receiving groove enabling the operator gently to roll the carton over, first onto the side engaged by said one flange and then onto the plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Adams Mar. 21, 1944 

